Little Red Wagon #296 - Red & White

It is Little Red Wagon time again!  To start off we would like to welcome three new members to our team; Brenda, Donna and Mandy!  The have great creative talent and we are thrilled to add them to our roster.  We are sad to say good-bye to Tracy, Collette and Susie.  It was wonderful having them on our team and they will each be missed.    

Now for this week's challenge.  Carolyn is up as hostess this week and in honor of Canada Day she wants to see Red and White on our project.  Easy enough!

I thought this sweet digi, from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, was perfect for this challenge. I colored it up using my Copic markers and kept the mouse grey (a neutral color) and pink (a shade of red) and, of course, a red and white baseball was perfect!

Then I dug through my wagon of goodies and found some papers that would work.  I created the sentiment on my computer using Varsity font.  I think this card would be perfect for either of my great-nephews, Nolan or Jack :)

I hope you decide to play along with our Red and White challenge this week. Be sure to visit all the Girlfriends on our DT for more great inspiration and then link up your own creation.  Have a great week!

As We Speak...

Learning new things in Photoshop Elements
Loving how green and lush my gardens are
Enjoying all the free time I have
Watching every home renovation show I can :)
Reading The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
Craving chocolate! So what else is new!
Accomplishing lots of creative endeavors
Thanking God for my family, especially my amazing husband
Hoping to travel soon
Wishing I lived closer to my sisters
Dreaming about new cars
Drinking lots of fresh fruit smoothies!

Little Red Wagon #295 - Cute As A Button

Tracy wants to see cute and buttons this week at Little Red Wagon.  How much fun is that?  I found this totally adorable digi from A Day For Daisies and decided he was about as cute as cute can be so I used him on my card.

Of course I colored him up with my Copic markers and I also did some paper piecing on his shirt and shorts.  I kept the image very soft and pastel to increase the cuteness factor.

I also added some die-cut clouds and some paper tape that looks like lace.  Last, but not least, I added three buttons!

I really hope you decide to join us this week and link up your Cute As A Button card!  See you there :)

#grateful

While I was away cropping a few weekends ago, I managed to get a couple of layouts designed, along with some cards.  This particular layout happened totally by accident as I found the photo tucked into my supplies and I was suddenly inspired to put it on a page!

With no particular plan in mind, I dug through my papers, punches, stamps and embellies and came up with a page that I am quite happy with!

When I found the #grateful wooden embellishment I knew I had found my title.  It really says it all.

For the background, I started with one of my coveted peeling paint pattern papers.  Then I used three different BoBunny background stamps to add some interest.

One of my favorite go-to elements are my doilies.  I think they work so well with all sorts of layouts and cards.  On this design, it added just a hint of 'pretty' for the one female in the photo - ME!  I also couldn't resist adding some sequins for just a touch of bling.

I am entering this layout into a challenge over at Challenge YOUrself.  It is anything goes this month, as long as YOU are in the layout!  This great challenge blog has been around for a while, and I have always wanted to play along.  Thanks for stopping by :)

Little Red Wagon #294 - Stitching

Jan has posted the challenge this week at Little Red Wagon and she wants to see stitching.  It can be hand stitching, machine stitching or faux stitching - she isn't fussy!

I decided to pull out my trusty sewing machine to add some stitching to my card.

I started with this awesome digi image from A Day for Daisies!  Isn't he just the most handsome rooster you have ever seen?  I colored him up with my Copic markers and then paired the image with some papers from Farm House Paper Company (I kid you not!).  I have had the papers for a very long time and this was the perfect opportunity to pull them out and put them to use.

Then I created my sentiment - which my friend JoAnn came up with - using my computer.  I also added lots of stitching, some twine, some brown enamel dots, and a couple of buttons.

I hope you decide to join us this week and add some stitching to your card.  If you do, be sure to link it up at Little Red Wagon and we will be sure to stop by your blog. See you soon :)

Little Red Wagon #293 - Old MacDonald Had A Farm

Happy Wednesday to everyone!  We are down on the farm this week at Little Red Wagon.  For this week's challenge, I would like to see a farm animal on your project.

Since my BFF and fellow DT member, Carolyn, has just celebrated her birthday, I decided to make her a birthday card with her favorite farm animal on it.  Cows!

I found a sweet cow digi image and I knew it would make Carolyn say, "Awwww!", so I incorporated it onto my card.   

Then I die cut a picket fence using my Silhouette Cameo and created a little sign with a birthday greeting to hang on it.

I know it is hard to tell, but I actually used my craft knife to cut around the cows' snouts so they would hang in front of the fence.  Pretty clever, huh?  lol  Other than that I kept it pretty clean and simple.

I hope you decide to join us on the farm and create a card to link up!  Just pop over to Little Red Wagon and join in the fun.  See you there :)

P.S.  Happy Birthday Carolyn!  I hope you like your cows ♥

Pocket Letter

I saw a fun idea on Pinterest a while back and I decided to create one for my sister, Mary, when we went scrapbooking recently.  It is called a Pocket Letter!

The idea behind this project is to take a baseball card sleeve, add things to the pockets, and then send or give it to someone.

When it is ready to go, you just fold it into thirds and pop it into an envelope or tie a ribbon around it like I did.

There are probably different types of Pocket Letters, but I decided to make one that had scrapbooking goodies in each pocket that Mary could use on her own layouts or cards.

For the base of my pockets, I used a single sheet of paper from Amy Tangerine, Rise and Shine. The cards on the paper cut into perfect pieces for the pockets and I loved the sweet colors and quotes on them.

Then I proceeded to fill each pocket with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  I added little tags, wire clips, enamel dots, wooden embellies, sequins, a small stamp, washi tape (that I wound around an acrylic square), and a tin pin!  And yes, she loved it when I gave it to her!

Thanks for looking ~

Little Red Wagon #292 - Use It Up!

Happy Wednesday to everyone!  Heather is our host this week at Little Red Wagon and she wants us to 'Use It Up' - use something you have in your stash and have never used.

Well that was a fun challenge!  I found it interesting to dig through my wagon of goodies to see what would qualify and I found a sweet little stamp from Stamping Bella called Pair of Heart Purses.

How darling is that image!  I can't believe that I have not used it before! 

I also added some pearl accents from a package that had never been opened :)

Now, I know we all have things that we probably don't even remember that we have, so why not dig through your stash to see what treasures you can find and join in our challenge this week!  Then pop over to Little Red Wagon and link up your card.  We will be sure to stop by to see what you have created.

Little Red Wagon #291 - Memorial Day

Welcome to our Wednesday challenge at Little Red Wagon.  This week Collette wants to see some Red, White and Blue on our project in honor of Memorial Day that our American friends celebrated on Monday.

I decided to create a fun patriotic project - a little basket, made entirely of paper, with a printable tag.

I started by creating a simple box out of white cardstock and then I used some wood grain paper to create little pickets that I added to each side.

I used a fabulous USA printable that I added to a tag and the tag was tied to the ribbon using twine.  A few stars completed the patriotic feel :)

I hope that you will decide to play along with us.  Just head over to Little Red Wagon and link up your Red, White and Blue project.  We will be sure to visit your blog :) 

Also, we are having a Design Team Call at Little Red Wagon, so if you enjoy making cards and would like a weekly challenge to keep you motivated, then be sure to apply.  Just click HERE for all the details.

Little Red Wagon #290 - To Die For!

This week's challenge at Little Red Wagon is 'To Die For'!  Susie wants to see a manual or electronic die-cut used on our project.

I immediately went to my trusty Silhouette Cameo for this challenge as there are just so many options to choose from.  With the end of the school year close upon us, I decided to make a teacher Thank You bookmark/gift card holder.

A pencil is the perfect go-to for a teacher theme and this one measures about 3 x 7 inches. I did not make this into a card as I thought it could be used as a bookmark.  You could even add a little gift card and hand written note to the back!

For more inspiration on using die-cuts on your projects be sure to visit the Girlfriends on the DT!  They will be sure to have lots of great ideas!  Then create your own fantastic project and link it up at Little Red Wagon.  We would love to see what you create :)

Little Red Wagon #289 - Make An Impression

It's Wednesday and Carolyn has a fun challenge for us this week at Little Red Wagon.  She wants us to make an impression - i.e. use dry embossing on your project.

I used an embossing folder on the white cardstock for my card and I also ended up using heat embossing for my sentiment!  Does that make me a keener?

I used silver embossing powder on vellum for the first time and I really love how it looks.  My bow was made with some pretty tulle and I added some machine stitching to my card for interest.  I also used some silver glitter cardstock to coordinate with the silver embossing.

I hope you decide to make an impression with us this week.  Link up your card at Little Red Wagon and we will be sure to visit your blog!  See you there :)

Giving Thanks

Life is good.  So very good! When I stop and look around me at all the little wonders in my life, I often feel overwhelmed with gratitude.  Sometimes it is hard to direct our gaze upon the positive when the negative is shouting in our face throughout the day.  But deep inside of me, there is a spirit of thanksgiving that allows me to recognize the gifts in my life.  Here are a few from this past week...

- the smell of freshly mowed grass
- seeing the first goldfinch of the season at my feeder
- family reunions
- sisters who totally understand and love me
- little miracle babies

- warm sunshine after a cold winter
- flip flops and pretty painted toes
- trusting in a future that is unsure
- celebrating first birthdays

 

- strawberry smoothies
- delicious fresh salads

- the adventure that a good book provides
- the security of home
- the smell of homemade soup cooking on the stove
- sharing laughter with Wayne and Spencer after a long day at work

All is gift. I am blessed.

Little Red Wagon #288 - Distress It!

Tracy has us feeling very distressed this week at Little Red Wagon!  She wants to see ink, frayed edges, distress inks, and anything else distressing :) 

Here is my card.

I started with a stamped image that I embossed with black embossing powder.  Then I used some Distress Markers to color in the different areas.  After that I added Wink of Stella and clear embossing powder.  Finally, I used some Distress Ink to shade in the area around the image.

I also inked the edges of my tag and papers using more Distress Ink and I distressed the edges of the pink paper using a distressing tool.  I just feel so distressed!

I hope you visit the Girlfriends on the DT for Little Red Wagon to see their creations this week. You are sure to get lots of inspiration.  Then link up your own project.  We would love to see what you create!